Chapter 78
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I'll purchase divine power with money.
Chapter 78
"Then I'll be on my way."
I waved goodbye to Airic Dert and boarded the carriage with Lute Sheary's assistance.
As I'd anticipated, the interior was remarkably spacious and comfortable. Do all dukes travel with carriages like this?
"What kind of carriage is this? I could sleep here without my mouth going crooked—I'd sleep like a baby."
"It's a specially commissioned carriage for that very purpose."
"Really?"
"As you know, my health isn't particularly good."
Ah, I see. Lute Sheary suffers from inexplicable pain.
Even sitting still is agonizing; the carriage's constant swaying must make it unbearable.
"No wonder the cushioning is extraordinary. So that's the story behind it."
I tapped the seat, which boasted a plushness rivaling a bed itself, cradling one's backside with unparalleled softness.
With this, even someone unaccustomed to carriage travel wouldn't suffer a sore posterior.
"But why are you closing the door?"
I watched Lute Sheary close the carriage door with puzzlement.
"It's this spacious, yet only the two of us are riding?"
Victoria Lawrence and the knights would ride on horseback, but couldn't Monica, Jun Ludmin, and Yuri Polton join us as well?
"Let me ask if anyone wishes to."
Lute Sheary smiled enigmatically and opened the carriage window, calling out to those outside.
"Does anyone want to ride in the carriage with us?"
Answers came pouring in from all directions immediately.
"I'm fine."
"I'll decline."
"I'd be grateful for your kindness, Lady Rosetta."
"I prefer horseback!"
Lute Sheary shrugged at me with a look that said, "See?"
Beyond her, everyone wore expressions of absolute distaste.
Right, I'd miscalculated. No one would want to share a carriage with a capricious, temperamental, and vastly powerful duke like myself.
Of course, not everyone felt that way.
"I'd like to travel with the High Priestess."
Jeremy raised his hand eagerly.
The moment Lute Sheary's eyebrows twitched, everyone shot him a look questioning his sanity.
"It seems no one else is interested. Let's depart as planned."
Lute Sheary chose to ignore him, not only closing the window but also drawing the curtains shut with a decisive sweep.
Jeremy's whimpering could be heard from outside, but after Monica said a few words, it abruptly ceased.
She'd apparently bribed him with cookies.
"Then we shall depart."
Once preparations were complete, Seth Noel, leading the procession, called out.
As the carriage began to move, I drew back the curtain and gazed out the window.
Airic stood alone before an old iron gate, its paint still peeling from years of neglect.
When our eyes met, he bowed his head respectfully. Thanks to the smile lingering at the corners of his mouth, his solitary figure didn't appear lonely at all.
I smiled and exchanged farewells with him.
My true journey was beginning.
* * *
The Empire possessed trains that ran on the magical power of mana stones.
Also called mana trains, these locomotives moved at considerable speed, significantly reducing travel time between regions.
Without them, I would have needed to spend a full ten days in a carriage—what a blessing it was.
"So this is the mana train."
After two days of carriage travel, I arrived at the Western Railway Station and gasped in admiration.
My impression upon seeing the stationary train was singular.
'It's like the Hogwarts Express.'
Any modern person seeing this black cylindrical engine with its number plate and the train painted entirely in crimson would think exactly as I did.
I'd always wanted to ride the Hogwarts Express at least once, and here in my second life, that wish was coming true.
"Greetings, Duke!"
At that moment, a man in a black suit approached and bowed deeply, greeting me with a loud voice.
"It's been a while, Station Master."
He appeared to be the master of the Western Railway Station.
"I hadn't heard of your arrival, Duke, and I apologize for my late greeting!"
Seeing the station master so deferential he seemed half-dazed, I truly grasped how remarkable Lute Sheary was.
"It's fine. I came today to escort someone of great importance."
"...Pardon? Someone of great... importance?"
The station master, who had been constantly bowing, lifted his head with a bewildered expression.
At that moment, his eyes met mine as I stood beside Lute Sheary.
"Allow me to introduce you. This is the High Priestess of the Sun God Grand Temple."
I felt the station master's startled gaze examining me urgently.
The vestments I wore and the Holy Knights and priests standing around me.
He seemed to have only just recognized us, having been too shocked by Lute Sheary's appearance.
"Ah, my greetings! I am Orlando Carlson, master of the Western Station!"
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Ordel Kiris."
While his excessive courtesy was somewhat burdensome, I now stood in this place as the face of the Sun God Grand Temple.
Every action of mine would represent our temple, so I straightened my posture with confidence.
If I bowed, people wouldn't praise me for humility—they would look down on me.
"Since you are such an important person, I shall serve you with utmost sincerity."
And Lute Sheary solidified my position better than anyone else could.
A single word from Lute Sheary was worth far more than ten actions of my own.
Look—even though the Western Station Master held no insignificant position, his gaze toward me transformed in an instant.
"Without question. I shall escort you to the first-class cabin. This way, please. You there! Come help with the luggage at once!"
At the station master's call, all the nearby staff rushed over to collect our belongings.
Watching our temple staff hand over their luggage with bewildered expressions was both endearing and pitiful.
The Saint and High Priestess, as divine representatives, held a position equivalent to that of great nobility within the Empire.
Thus, they should receive such treatment wherever they went. Yet those who had spent time only in the fallen Sun God's Temple found even this natural courtesy unfamiliar.
But this strangeness would not last long. Before much time passed, everyone would grow accustomed to it.
Because I would make it so.
"Thank you for coming all this way with me. I was curious why you insisted on escorting me, but now I see there was a reason for everything."
As I offered my final thanks before parting, Lute Sheary broke into a bright smile.
"I don't do things without purpose. Remember this: follow my words, and gold coins will fall even as you sleep."
"That's certainly an enticing promise. I'll keep it close to heart."
I extended my hand toward him. We exchanged a light handshake.
"It's been delightful. I'm already looking forward to our next meeting."
I had not forgotten the nightly drinking gatherings that took place at the Temple.
They had been the most enjoyable evenings I'd spent since arriving here.
"I'll have even finer wine prepared for our next encounter."
"This is exactly why I'm so fond of you, Duke."
I wished the next month would come quickly.
"High Priestess. It is time for departure."
At Monica's words, I nodded.
Now was the time to part.
"Then I'll see you next time."
"Safe travels."
After exchanging farewells with smiles, I entered the first-class cabin at the stern with my companions.
A spacious and luxurious interior reminiscent of a hotel room welcomed us.
"Wow, is this entire cabin just for us?"
To have an entire car to ourselves—how perfect for our large group!
"And there's even a bed. You said the train ride takes several days, right?"
"Two days at least."
"Then we won't have to worry about back pain."
I sat on the bed and pressed the mattress with my palms; it had quite decent elasticity.
Though perhaps it was my imagination, but it seemed slightly less cushioned than Lute Sheary's carriage....
"Then, High Priestess, we shall stay in the cabin directly behind this one. Please call for us if you need anything."
At that moment, the priests and Holy Knights, excluding Monica and Victoria Lawrence, bowed their heads. I tilted my head in confusion.
"Why? The space is more than sufficient for us to share."
The men aside, surely the women would be comfortable?
"No, that's quite alright."
"We're fine sleeping in another cabin. It's also first-class, and it's quite nice."
"Really, High Priestess, it's no trouble!"
Yet they were all vehemently refusing.
Ah, I see—spending several days in close quarters with a temperamental superior would indeed be unpleasant. I had been thoughtless again.
"...Do as you wish."
"Thank you! Please rest, High Priestess!"
The moment permission was granted, everyone bowed their heads as if they had been waiting for this very instant, then rushed out in succession.
Seth Noel, Monica, and Victoria Lawrence wore expressions of familiarity with the squirrel-cheeked swiftness of their movements, but Jun Ludmin and Rosetta did not.
At the sight of the two of them with wide eyes in shock, I swallowed my tears inwardly.
When would I ever become a superior worthy of respect? It still felt like a distant dream.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org